Apparatus for handling coils



Feb. 12, 1957 E. A.` LAINE APPARATUS FOR VHANDLNG CoILs Filed Aug. 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 12, 1957 E. A. LAINE APPARATUS Foa: HANDLING cons 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 lll. l

0 NATI r Feb. 12, 1957 E. A. LAlNE- 2,780,985

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING coILs Filed Aug. 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 12, 1957 Filed'Aug. 25, 1955 E. A. LAINE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING cons 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig] @we 5o eb. 12, 1957 E. A. LAINE 330,985

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING coms Filed Aug. 25, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 5 2,780,985 Patented Feb. 12, 1957 2,780,985 armaArUS ma. @as

rl`his invention relates to apparatus for handling slit strip coils lof steel and the like for facilitating the banding thereof. f Nhen steel 'Such as stainless, the electrical silicon-iron, or the like, is rolled and, iinished in wide s trip.form, the strip is'u`sually Wound into coils. Thereafter the-coils are slit to predetermined-widths and a plurality 'of slit strip coils; usually of diierent widths, is obtained from a single coi1.ln shipping such slit strip coils itis desirable I to band ythe individual-coils to hold them compact and to preventrshiftingof the convolutions thereof with accompanying damage ,togthe edges of the strip and introduction of strains'y therein. 'Because of the Weight ofthe wound coil it has heretofore been d iicultto handlethe coil during the handing thereof without introducing strains into the strip and in particular into Vthe electrical.silicon-iron grade -of'steel Considerableefiorts have heretofore been expended in attempting to Yp erfecuanintegrated handling and banding' apparatus, b utsuch attempts have not proven to be' commercially successful because of the manual operations" required, or whe-re' mechank'ed equipment has been produced and sed it Vhas* been found that the coils are otend-amaged during the handling and banding operation. Y ,An obect of'this invention is to provide apparatus for `mechanically handling Vslit strip' coils forfacilitating'the .Ibanding thereof. Y i

nother object of this invention is to provide apparatus for supporting la coil during amovement'thereof 'from a source of supply to'a coil supporting position` in a ldifferent plane without `damaging the coil and to automatc'ally Vfree' thefc'oil from such coil moving apparatus lwhenth'e' coil is i'n suchdiierent plane. Y i v "Anotherobject of this invention is to provide apparatus for"s up'porting accil during a movement thereof from a s'Our'ce of supply and to'autom-atically deposit such coil on support members 'which can he indexed through a plurality o f banding positions.' fAfurtherfobject of this invention is to provide, in "ap- 'paratus for facilitating Vthe handing offcoils, a rotatable arrn movable from a vertical coil receiving position `to1 a horizontal coil freeing position, the rotatable arm being provided with ai pivotally mounted coil shoe supportand having means for 'automatically operating the coil shoe 1 support'when the arm is inthe vertical position to enl gage `the coil vand support it on thearm dnringmovement "thereof and to release the coil when the karmis in; the 'fhorizontal position to automatically `deposit the coilfon v"support members disposed for facilitatingthe banding of ""thefcoilsf" 1- z n;

-A'more specific object of this invention is to provide, in apparatusfor'facilitating the bandingof coils, asupport- `"ing"arm-movable from adownwardly dependingvertical 4"posi-tion through'a horizontal position toan upwardly extending vertical position to receive a -coil from a source "'of supply, the' supporting arm having .pivotallyVv mounted `support' means carried thereby "automatically operated "when thearm is in the upwardly extending vertical posiof positions.

'Scrane'ZZ` carrying a suitable liftingV device, for example,

tionto engage the coil and support the coil on the arm during'inovement thereof anclto release the coil when'the -armisin the horizontal position to automaticallyl deposit the coil fon support memberswhich can be indexed through alnumherofbanding positions when the arr'nis in the downwardlydepending ver-ticalpositionf i O'therobjectsofthis inventionwill become apparent from thefifollowing description when taken-ih' conjunction with the accompanying drawings-in which# f jFigure-l is Ya -viewv insid-e elevation of apparatus embdying featureso'f Vthis invention;` i

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan View illustrating a general plint layout of. apparatus embodyinglthi-s inventionf Fig'i's a-view-iri'elevation and greatly enlarged i1- lu'stratihga-portion ofthe' apparatus-ofFig.` l inl-one 'of the' operating positions;V l f E1 Fig.v4' isaview in elevation of a portion of the apparatus offFigf' 3 i'ri'an'other of the loperating positions;` f'

Fig; Sais? a'vie'w 'in elevation of the 'apparatus of Fig. 4 instill another operating positiongf i '-'Figl'iis a side View in elevation, greatly enlarged and with parts broken away, of a=portionof the apparatus of 'Fig'.'l' ii: i' 1 Pig. 7 is Ia view in front elevation of the apparatus of Figtf; l y' I r fr -r: :G'Fig 8 is a plan view in section of a representative multiporticontrolvalve suitable for-use' in controlling the operak.tron-ofV the hydraulic cylinders represented in the apparatus :'otfigstthrough7ri-:ff I -f l this invention for facilitating Vthe yhandling and banding ofslit strip coils l2. The general assembly lll ofthe ap- -paratus embodies a number Vof different ypieces ofequpmentdisposed to cooperate toefcientlyhandle 4aslit fistrip ooil 12 for moving-:it from aIk source of supply, Vin this case. repre sented 'by Ya suitable turnstile assembly 14 to a position where the slit' ystrip vcoilvlz canfbeefciently ,and .successfully handed. vThus jthe-geueral-assemhly, 10 of apparatus comprises the turnstileassembl'yl 14 .carrying `a supply of thefslit `Vstrip'coilslZ,v a coillaridlingiaridinving apparatus shownge/nerally 'at ldisposed A adja'centfthe turnstile 14 and disposed ltobe operatedfohdeposing fa slit'wstrip coil l2 on a suitable coil support,shown generally Yat l, which Vcoil support lcan '.be'siu ably'in- :'dexed through `alnurnber'of banding'positionsf''bahding machine, represented by the rectangle 20,'fis disposedadjacent the upper endof the c'oil's'upport 1S wliere'it can `be vmoved into p'ositionin juxtaposition .with the coil sup- !portl'to band the coil 12 deposited thereon in a'num'ber ln order. to move the Vbanded coil 12 a .A an felectrornagnct 24, is positioned 'adjacent the coil vsupport 18,ilthe crane 22 being `disposed tolse operated to 4move the ,lifting device 24 .into engagement withthe banded coil I2-to v lift thecoil 12 from the coil supportv 18 and'deposit jj -such bandedcoil in stockY according to thewidth'of'the :"coil. Aplanned layout for the general'assembly loof the apparatusreferredtois shown generally-in Figgand it 'isapparent that "aneli'icien't handling, banding'and sorting'iof; thecoilsf12 of different size ican be. readily obtained. The"tur'nstile assembly 14is'well known; being Qpro- Vvidedwith `a pivotally mounted supporting arm' 26 for "supporting a plurality vof thel slit striprcoilvs V12 'thereon and ahydraulically operated 4pusher l28 for a j pushing force to the coils carriedvthereon. tofslidedhem off of the arm 26 onto a suitable carrier. In this instance the turnstile assembly comprises two of the turn-V stile assemblies as better shown in Fig. 2 wherein slit strip coils can be unloaded from one of the turnstiles while the other turnstile is being loaded with a supply of the coils from a suitable source of supply or the mill represented by the outlined rectangle 29. The turnstile assemblies 14 are carried on a suitable carriage 30 mounted for movement on rails 32 so that the carriage 30 can be readily moved to position a loaded turnstile 14 in the unloading position while the unloaded turnstile 14 is in a position to receive another supply of the slit strip coils.

The coil carrying apparatus 16 in this instance is positioned in a pit 34 and extends upwardly therefrom being provided with a pivotally mounted rotatable arm 36 disposed to be moved into juxtaposition withY a face of the end slit strip coil 12 carried on the turnstle assembly 14 when such turnstile is in an unloading position. In order to provide adequate support for the rotatable arm 36 when such arm' carries a load, that is, one of the slit strip coils 12, the base of the coil carrying apparatus 16 is formed of a pair of upwardly extending side plates 38 and 40 which are secured to and are carried on a base member 42 in the pit 34, such side plates being vided with an outer curved surface 74 designed for receiving or tting against the surface of the inner diam- Y eter of one of the wound slit strip coils 12. Such surface further reinforced as by means of outwardly extending 1 Yflange plates 44 secured at the outer edges of such side plates 38 and 40. While the flange plates 44 are shown in Figs. Y1 and 3 through 6, they are omitted from the showing made in Fig. 7 for purposesV of clarity. The side plates-38 and 40 project upwardly from the pit 34 a distance above the upper edge of the pit so that the arm 36 can be mounted therebetween adjacent the upper ends thereof for movement from an upwardly extending vertical position illustrated in Figs. l and 3 through a horizontal position illustrated in Fig. 4 to a downwardly depending vertical position illustrated in Fig. 5.

In mounting the rotatable arm 36 between the side plates 38 and 40, provision isV made Yfor actuating the arm'36. Thus, as more clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7,

Vthe rotatable arm 36 comprises a pair of elongated side pieces 46 and 48 disposed in spaced relation to one another, the lower end of the side pieces 46 and 48 being angularly Ydisplaced so that the main or coil receiving portion of arrn 36 will be offset with respect to its pivot may be of metal or may be of one of the synthetic resinous products reinforced with ber suitable for withstanding the frictional wear occasioned by engaging the inner surface of one of the coils. The shoe support 70 is of a length so that when the arm 36 is in the upwardly extending vertical position as illustrated in Figs. l, 6 and 7, the outer end of the shoe 70 will project into and engage the inner surface of the end coil 12Vas the end coil is moved from the arm 26 of the turnstile assembly 14. Thus when the arm 36 is in the upwardly extending vertical position the 4end of the shoe support 70 is in close proximity to the end of the arm 26 of the turnstile assembly 14 which carries the supply of slit strip coils 12. 1

ln order to control movement Yof the shoe support 70 to the position illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the shoe 70 is connected as by means of links 76 and 78 to the end of a piston rod S0 of a hydraulically operated cylinder' 82 which is carried between the side pieces 46 and 48. Thus, as illustrated, the link 78 is mounted on a pivot shaft 84 disposed to extend through suitable openings in the side pieces 46 and 48 and is pivotally connected at one point to the piston rod 80 and at another point tothe end of link 76 which is connected to the shoe support 70. In order to support the hydraulic cylinder 82, its lower end is secured as by means of pivot connection 86 to a liange S8 carried by an I-beam 90 which is disposed between and secured to the side pieces 46 i and 48. The hydraulic cylinder 82 may be any of the support. The arm 36 is mounted on a shaft 50 which extends through the spaced side plates 38 and 40 at the upper end thereof. The shaft 50 is mounted for rotating movement in the side plates 38 and 40, suitable bearings being provided in aligned openings therein and ange type bearing members 52 and 54 being disposed on opposite sides i of the side plates 38 and 40, respectively, for providing bearing surfaces for the shaft 50. Likewise a flange type bearing 56 and 58 is secured to the outer surface of the side pieces 46 and 48, respectively, of the arm 36 for bearing against suitable bushings and 62, respectively, disposed between the bearing faces 52-56 and 544-58, respectively, Vof the assembly. In mounting'the rotatable arm V36 on the shaft 50 a suitable pinion gear 64 is disposed between the side pieces 46 and 48 at the lower ,A

end thereof for receiving the shaft 50. The side pieces 46 and 48 and the pinion gear 64 are suitably keyed (not` shown) to the shaft 50 for movement therewith so that when a force as described hereinafter is applied to the pinion gear V64 a rotatable movement of the arm 36 1s obtained. A cam 66 is disposed on and suitably keyedV to the shaft 50 in a manner not shown, the purpose of the Vcam 66 being described more fully hereafter.

In order to support one of the slit strip coils 12 on l therotatable arm 36 during a predetermined movement thereof, a rotatable pivotally mounted shoe support 70 Y well known types and it is believed unnecessary to illustrate the details thereof since the structure and operation of such a cylinder is well known. Conduits 92 and 94 are connected to suitable ports (not shown) in the hydraulic cylinder 82 for supplying hydraulic pressurert'o the cylinder to actuate the piston rod either upwardly to operate the linkage 76 and 78 in a manner to force the shoe support 70 to the position illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 where it can support a coil 12, or downwardly to cause a collapse of the linkage 76 and 78 to move the shoe support 70 away from a supporting engagement with the coil 12 carried on the arm 36.

In order to actuate the rotatable arm 36, a segment gear 96 is mounted for rotatable movement on a shaft 98 disposed to extend through suitable openings in the side plates 38 and 40, such shaftV being mounted and retained in position by means of a keeper plate 100,

the gear segment 96 being disposed with the teeth thereof in engagement with the gear teeth Yof the pinion gear 64 as particularly illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The segment gear 96 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 102 disposed to be positioned between the ends ofV a yoke 104, carried at the upper end of a piston rod 106, movement of which is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder 108. The ange 102 and yoke 104 are pivotally connected as by means of the shaft extending therebetween and the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder 108 is mounted on a shaft 112 carried by a flange 114 on the base 42. The cylinder 108 may be of any of the well known types being provided with conduits 116 and 118 for supplying hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic piston (not shown) contained therein to control the upward or downward movement of the piston rod 106 and thereby control the rotating movement of the arm The hydraulic pressure applied to the hydraulic cylinder 108 is preferably manually controlled by the operator of the apparatus, such control being of any of the well known types such as, for example, a multiport valve which will be referred to hereinafter in con- -nection with Ythe operation of the hydraulic mechanism the operation of the hydraulic cylinder 82 carried by the `rotatable arm 3r6,.a multi-port valve-representedr at; 120 iS secured in any suitablenian1er tothe out'ef: face. .of ithe si'de plate 38,'the valvelvu beinguprovided with apiston upper ends thereof, the posts 168 being carried in a suitable..indesingmehanismata .The indagine .aeheaism 17.0 ,.hisinstane. is. mounted. toftvfatingimcieatt Valtoutsa Shafta1'72, better illustrated ii1`-l:fig..-l 0,y thevlrower ro-dl122 as illustrated in'Fig. 8 which carries aroller 5 endofmthe'shaft,beingdisposed tobe mountedi'ni` able member 4124,*at -its 4outer end disposed to be engaged .by the cam r66 whichris keyed to `the shaft 50. '.Th'ecam, as better shownin Fig.'6, is providedwithwthreecam surfaces of: predetermined size 'andl length*A for operating the-Ivalvegl, representative details ofY which arefschematicallyrshown inY Fig 8, to lany lone of three positions dependingnipotithe position of the( arm 36 to control the hydraulic pressure .pblisd .I the hydraulic vCylin- .drzi Y In assembling the.hydraulicsysternfor controlling the Voperation .of the shoe support 70, the shaft 50'is 'drilled from leach end invvardly thereof'to points126 and 128, indicated by dotted lines in Fig.; 7,7an'd`the Ypinion gear `v6.4. and sbattere drilled `as 'indiatedat'glfa Vand 132 in dotted'outline` forjproviding passages from eachV of the ends of theishaft 5 0pwhich can be connectedtothe conduits-.94 and V92, respectively, ofthe hydraulic cylinder ...82. In. order to connect the .hydraulic systemlto'the .valve 120 the ends of cachot thejopeningsh'n126and'128 ldrilled into the. shaft 50 are connected as by4 means of Hrotatingpipejoints 1 34 and 136,' respectively, to 'Ybe'ucon- .nected 'through conduits 138 l and 1.40,V respectively,..1o .the valve 120. ,A rsuitable inlet conduit is connected to a source of supply (not shown) of hydraulic. pressure A,and a. conduit 144 iszdisposed to be connectedto exhaust`V the valve 120. Y'

AVAs illustratedin Figi. 8, ,the valve1120 is disposed .toghe actuated to aneutral position :by r.the camfwh .the amsurface llltengages` theroller 124 whereby pressures nare applied .toteither side otr thefpivston A shown) -of therhydraulic cylinderl 82, and'. vof 4the Ashoe support 70 is eiected. .However`,.w henfthe cam surface 143 engages 'the roller124, the valve rod 1,22isactnated downwardly tn move each ofthervalves 150,- 152 and 1540i the valve assembly Y120.downwardly against the torce oir-the` spring v156, `whereby vport d.158;is vclosed and hydraulic pressure isappliedthrought-he convduit 142, port V16%, port 162, conduit 140, rotatingpipe Y joint 136, drilled conduit 132 and conduit V92V to the lower end-of the cylinder 82 to etiect anupwardmoyement of Athe .piston rodlil to operate the linkage-f76 and 78 to eiect a rotating movement of the shoensupportJOL-to the positionillustra-ted inV Figs; 6 and 7 ,wherevitrentends outwardly in a substantiallyhorizontal position fronrthe yarrnfn. On the other handgif the cam surface 164 engages the roller.124, the .rod 122 isV actuatedl upwardly las .by means of thespring V156 to move the valves 1,50, .152 Aand .154 upwardly-.wherein portl is closed and hydraulic vpressure is .applied as through conduit Y142, port @1158,.port .166,V conduit 138, rotating pipe joint 134, ,the drilledopening 126, drilled opening'130 and.conduit94 to the upper end of the hydraulic. cylinderBZ lto leffect a downward .movement of the piston rod to thereby vcollapse the linkage 75 and 7S and eect a pivotal movement vof the shoe support 70 away from Vits Aoutwardlyrex- A.tending position illustratedrin Fig. 6, whereby thejrsfhoe support'v 70will not engage the inner surface ofthe coil -12 carried on Athe rotatable arm 36.

Asvthe rotatable arm 36 is pivotally moved away .from '.thevnpwardlyxeigtending vertical position illustratedfin Figs l, 3, 6 and 7 .towardthe horizontal position illus- Vltrated inFig. 4,l the shoe support 70 is actuated as last Adescribed to release the coil, 12 carried thereby as the farm 36 approaches 'the horizontal position. Ingorderlto v .free the. coil lfromthe rotatable arm 36 and to support 4 *suchf coil in a Yruanner where it can be suitably banded, V` f hefcoil s upplortslSuis disposed in the pathof movement pif the .rotatable arm Y36. init-his instance the coil support 1S comprises a plurality` of vertically extending and no movement bushings,17,4'andf7,6 assembled inra housing'l d is- ,.posed to extendbelow the Vbase V42 of thecoil handling equipment. A suitable `bearing ange10 Lis" I carriedi by the" Vshat1'7,2;.for seating yagainst Ythe upper surface of thebushing 17,4 .to limit downward movement of the shaft -172 lin .the assembly. .In order to supportthecoilisuppgrt posts 168 and .the Weight of acoil 12 Whencarriedjthere- Jby, and also to provide. for a free rotating movementof tl'ie indexingmechanisni yto effect a. predetermined degree of. indexirigaslwill be described. more fully, hereinafter, Y-a housin'glSZ is disposedfovervthe' upperend of thejshaft 172 Abeing' mounted thereon. as by .means of .suitable tapered roller. bearing assemblies 1S4`xand 186 at the upper and`lower ends, respectively,zoi thehousinglz, `the rollerbearing .assemblies 'being so well Vknvi/n`that ,they needY not"b"e]furt`herdescribed herein.' -.T he housing carries two spaced cain indexing plates 188. and 19.0 adjacenttheupper end thereof, su'chplatesw 188'. and. 190 being suitably secured, as by welding, to the housing 182. Likewiseareinforcing plate 192 is'carrie'd by `t.he"liv"er end fof Ythe' housing '182, being secured thereto as by 4welding.""-Each'bf the cam'plates 188 and '190 and't'he "reinforced plate192fis provided with a Vseries -of Vtive laligned openings therein disposed in predetermined vrela'ti'cv'p'n"for receiving cylindrical pipe stanchions `194' 'thejrein',`such `stan'chions being weldedlt/o each `ofthe Y three'pla't'es and lof asizfor'receivingfthelowr eiid'of apost 168'.V The upper end of each; ofithestanhions is ygi'ooveii asat'19f6 for receiving alceyingpi h1h98 'Qsedtleend thrbpeh the @est 1.685 f betterillustriated irLFig. 9,' thecam plates 188 and 190 are of a'die'rent size, the plate 188'being'-the smaller Vandhavingjthree cam surfaces 2700, 262, "and 204 terminatingin' pin receiving abutments 206, 208 and2'10frespectively, whereas the cam plate 190 is larger-*Vaudl is `lprovided with four cam surfaces 212, 2714, 216 and 218 L,'terminatingin.pinreceiving abutrnents 22e, 224,j226"and 4vy2,28,' respectively. The number of coil support posts "1 68 carried bythe indexing mechanism depends upon whetherthe `coil ist-o be banded in three positionslorin four positions. If the coil is to be band-ed in threepositions, :then three of the support posts 16S kare disposedin Yand supportedby pipe stanchions 19421, `194bj 1ndf1v9 4c corresponding. to the `three cam surfaces -of thecarn plate V188 and. being approximately 120 apart. On fthe other hand', if the coilis to be. banded infour positions, four of the `support posts V168are disp'cfse'din'the'fcylin` drical pipe Yst anchionsl 194a, 194d, 194e ,and v19,4cfcorresponding to the four cam surfaces vof thefjcnain plate k and being approximately 90 apart.

Alnordeer to. effectivelyV index the indexing equipment 17?, a motor230 having a suitable gear reducer-'isdisposedto be connected through pivotally connected arms 232 and 234 to a rotatable pin 236 carried by anendf'of arm 234 and which is disposed to engage a lcam surface of'one of the cam plates and 190, depending iipon the positioning of the arm 234. Thus the arm 232Ais connected through the gear reducer drive (not shown) to be driven in a clock-wise direction by themotor 230, a shaft 233 being carried' at the outer end of such arnfor supporting the arm 234. The shaft 238 extends through a suitable bushing 240 carried on the end of,.the l232 and is provided with an adjustable bushingangefZ/Z u disposed to be secured to the shaft 23S in one of two positions depending upon the positioning of .the arm 234,101' ,positioning the pin 236 relative to a cam surface ofone or the other of the cam plates 13%l and 190. fin, orden. to insure that the pin 236 is biased against a cam surfacepof one of .the cam lplates 188 or 190, depending uponthe V:spacedposts 168 havingcoil receiving padsA 169 on .the ..75 positioning ofthe. flange. bushing, 242, a spring, repre vsented Yat 244 Figfl, is disposedbe'tweena fixed collar 1245 and thebearing end of arm 234 about the'shaft 238 for providing friction loading between the collar 245 and the arm 234. Thus with the motor 230 operating clock- 'wise and with the arm 234 spring loaded, the pin 236 is maintained Vin engagement with one of the cam surfaces of Vthe selected cam plate 188 or 190.

In order to control the operation of the motor 230 so Vlthat the indexing apparatus 170 will not be operated except when the rotatable arm 36 is in the downwardly depending position, and will not interfere with movement of the coil support post 168, a movable contact member 2461 is `mounted between the side plates 36 and 40. The movable contact member 246 is disposed to be engaged -by the rotatable arm 36 only when the rotatable arm 36 is in the downwardly depending vertical position whereby the contact member 246 ismoved to a circuit establishing position where it bridges fixed icontacttmembers 248 to establish an energizing circuit through contact member V249 (shown in its circuit interrupting position) to a suitable source of power (not shown) for the motor 230. Thus, after the operator has actuated contact member 249 .to its circuit closing position the operation of the motor 230 is automatically'controlled by thev operation of contact member 246 and is interrupted by movement of conrtact member 249 to the circuit interrupting position or by movement of the arm 36 to release contact member 246.

, In operation, when the turnstile assembly 14 is provided with a supply of the slit strip coils 12 and is 'moved Y to Yain-unloading position and the crane 22 is operated to '.move the lifting device 24 out of the path of movement o f rotatable arm 36, the operator of the apparatus supplies hydraulic pressure as through the conduit 118 to the hydraulic cylinder 108 to actuate the segment gear 96 ywhich is in engagement Vwith the pinion gear 64 to Aetect face 164'of cam 66 still engages the roller 124 with the ,result that the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 82 is not changed. As the rotatable arm moves from the horizontal position toward the upwardly extending vertical position, cam surface 146 engages the 'roller 124 to place the multi-port valve 120 in its neutral operating position whereby the hydraulic cylinder 82 is still not operating to eect an operation of the shoe support 70. As the rotatable arm 36 approaches the upward- -ly extending substantially vertical position illustrated in Fig. l, the cam surface 148 of earn 66 engages the roller 124 and effects an operation of the valve 129 to admit )hydraulic pressure as described hereinbefore to the cylinder 82 to effect an operation of the shoe support 76 to its outwardly extending position. However, because of the time delay inherent in the operation of a hydraulic system of the type utilized and described herein, it is found that the shoe support lil will not actually be -actuated into engagement with the inner surface of a coil until after the lrotatablearm 36 is actually in the upwardly extending vertical position. Thus an operator can efectively move the first slit strip coil 12 on the arm 26 of the turnstile 14 towards the vertical arm 36 so that the coil overhangs the end-of the arm 26 a measurable distance before the a shoe support 76 actually engages the inner surface of such end coil. This time delay saves wear and tear on the surface of the shoe suppont 7@ and also makes it impossible for the shoe support to be out of alignment with the end of the arm 26 when the end coil is moved therefrom.

rotatable arm 36 to a position where the inner surface of thecoil is engaged by the shoe support'70 which functions to support and maintain the coil in positionon the `rotatable arm 36. The operator then eects an operation `of the control valve (not shown) for the hydraulic cylinder 108 to effect a downward movement of the piston rod Y166 to actuate the segment gear 96 in a clock-wise direction to effect a counterclockwise movement of the pinion gear 64 to move the rotatable arm toward the horizontal position illustrated in Fig. 4. As the rotatable arm 36 Y leaves the upwardly extending vertical position, the cam 66 is driven so that the roller 124 of control valve 120 moves from the cam surface 148 to the cam surface 146, thereby eieoting an operation of the control valve 120 to a neutral position whereby movement of the shoe support is prevented. As the rotatable arm 36 approaches the horizontal position-of Fig. 4, the roller 124 rolls from the cam surface 146 of cam 66 to the cam surface 164, whereby the control valve is actuated to permit a ow of the hydraulic fluid through the conduit 138, rotating pipe joint 134, shaft 50 and conduit 94 to effect an operation ofthe hydraulic cylinder 82 to collapse the linkage 78 and cause a movement of the shoe support 70 away from its contact engagement with the coil carried on the rotatable arm 36.

Assuming that the coil 12 carried by the rotatable arm 36 is to be banded in four positions, then four ofthe coil supporttposts 168V are positioned in and carried by the cylindrical stanchions 194a, 194d, 194e and 194e ofthe indexing support mechanism 170. Two of the postsV 168 are thus spaced on opposite sides of the path of movement ofthe rotatable arm 36 so that the arm 36 will move downwardly in the space provided therebetween. Thus, as the arm 36 approaches the horizontal position, the overlapping edges of the coil 12 carried thereon are brought into engagement with the pads 169 carried on rthe upper ends of the posts 168 on opposite sides of the arm 36, whereby the coil is supported in a substantially horizontal position on the upper ends of the posts 168 and the arm 36 is free to continue its rotation to a downwardly extending vertical position as represented in Fig. 5. Ilt is necessary that the rotatable arm 36 complete its downward movement to the downwardly extending ver- `tical position in order to clear the space between the spaced support posts 168 whereby the support posts 168 may be indexed through a plurality of banding positions.

o With the coil carried on the pads 169 of the spaced support posts 168, a suitable banding machine represented by the rectangle 20 is moved to a position where a band (not shown) may be passed :about the coil for banding the coil, Upon completion of the movement of the rotatable arm 36 Ito the downwardly extending vertical position, the contact member 246 is actuated by the arm 36 to a circuit closing position whereby the operator, by operating contact member 249, can effect an operation of the motor 236. Since the motor 230 is connected through arm 232 'and the friction loaded `arm 234 to position the pin 236 on one of the cam surfacesrof the cam pllate '190, operation off the motor 230 will eect movement of the pin 236 along said cam surface to a position where the pin 236 engages the pin receiving abutment associated with such -cam surface whereby further operation of the motor 230 and a rotation of the arm 232 will apply a pulling-force directly to the cam plate 190 to index the cam plate 190 forward one-quarter of a turn before the pin 236 is released from the pin receiving abutment and rolls back over such cam surface to engage the next suceding cam surface and position itself in the pin receiving abutment associated with such succeeding cam surface'. Thevindexing of the coil support is controlled by an operator so that as much time can be taken in each `banding .position as. isv necessaryto eect 1a.. SDQCQSSt-ll banding ofzthecoil inl sucliposition.

.lf in steadlofbanding the coil in fourpositionsit-is' de- .sired to band ,the coil in three positions, then 'three of the Ysupport postsl68 are positioned in"the cylindrical stanchiens 152451,19@ and-194candthe postsare removedY whereby' the pin-.23`6..is maintained in engagement- With oneofthev cani :surfaces .of suchcam plate and will seat in. .the pin receiving..abutmentassooiated with such cam surfacewhen the motorltl .is operated to eect a move- ...ment ofthe .cam plate. 18S@throughlanpangleof 120.

...Asf soon .as the. coilisbanded lin a. .predetermined nnmr-ber. of. positions, the.. crane. 22 is :oper/ated to moveAthe 11i-fung device.Y 24 into engagement with the handed ...andthe banded coil is yremoved from the posts' 1l68 and stored with lother. coils .off the same size. 'ihereafterjthe .operator efectan operation;of the contnol walyetnot show/*11) which .oontrols;the. hydraulic 'pressure vapplied to tithe: hydraulic cylindergl'toeed,an lupward movement hf` thefpiston rd 105 .andlthereby elect a V,clouriter clock- .wise Yingu/.ement lof; the segment gear Sito -liect ,aj clock- 1d crfibedhereinbeore to 4 again erngagejthe inner surface lof .the succeeding end slit strip chil as itt is pushed `from2-the .amilo-foi the. turnstile assembly.

'-.As iseiden't fromithe foregoing' descrip-tionkapparatus isiprovi'ded. forlthe; e'flicient mechanical handling of al slit strip vcoil'whereby theJ slit stripoil Calbe readily moved from a vertical-Position to `a horizontal., iti'omwhere itf can A be .readily banded and" then mov`ed fqstockfthe apparatus Aproviding an efcient handling 'ofih'ecoil through a predetermined nu'mber of'bariding positions. "In 4addition, safetyfeatures are .provided for insuring that 'thecoii support in the banding`- position cannot beop- Aerat'ed untili the vcoil-moving afm; is' free oflthe. c oil suplpfort.A Withthe apparatusldescrlbeiit,has been o und ithat there is'little if any `damage to the coi-l'rduringfthe movement and handling thereof infeectingthe banding of thel coil. 4''The.apparatus is compact andinteg'ratedand takesverj'little room .from the 'mill oor. rnrther; the use of manpower in handling a coilforbanding Loan. be decreased to one operator. who, canecientlyoperatlhe discharge of the coil troni-theturnstile andjtherotating jloperation'of the rotatabe arm, as well as the indexingr apparatus for the coilsupportwhen the vcoil is .in the'band- Q ingpositionV The apparatus described and claimed-can beconstructed'of substantially standard component parts andcan be readily reproducedby anyone' skilledinlhe -rart.

" V[f claim:

I.. In apparatusfor handlingstn'p .coils tofacilitatethe Q .bandingthereo the combinationcomprising; arm means for carrying n supplyof. slit stripcfoils With,theirfaces in susbtantially. verticail parallel relation, a rotatable arm disposed Afor movement` between ang upwardlyextending l :vertical position; vand a horizontal* position; means for xtecng movement of .the rotatable arm between theyertiealposition'andthe horizontal position, a: shoe support e "Apivctally carriedby the-rotatable-arm, meansactuate'd -by A"m'ovem'ent' of the rotatable arm tothe upwardlyextendingverticaliposition to effect `pivotal` movementof the ...grasses 10 shoe support .to .extend .outwardlytherefram .aliment with the. will. carryingrarm means t0..resevetheenislit strip coil therefrom and to. maintainsaid vend coil in supported Vrelation on the rotatablegarm, Vsaid ushoe;support actuating means also Vbeing'disposed -to be actua "by movement ofthe rotatable tothe horizontal position to elect pivotal movement of 'the -shoesuppo'rt to releasethe slit strip coil when `the rotatablefarm is inthe horizontal position, and a 4.coil support memberxiispos-ed to receive-theslit strip coil whenthe 'rotatable isin the horizontal position to'thereby -free' tl 1e slit-Stripcoi'l from the rotatablearm. f

2. ln apparatus for handling stnip coils to facilitate the bandingV thereot,the combinationcomprising, arm means for carrying a supply o-fslit strip coils with their faces in substantially Vertical parallel relation, ya rotatable arm disposed for movement between .an upwardly extending vertical position and a horizontal position, means for effecting movement of the rotatable armbe'tweenA the yertical and horizontal positions, ashoe support pivotally carried bythe rotatable arm, hydraulic means carried'by the rotatable arm and connected tothe pivotally mounted shoesupport for eontrollingthe pivotal movement thereof, valve means responsive to movementof the rotatable arm d-isposedto control the Aoperation of the hydraulic means, the hydraulic means beingydisposed whenthe rotatable 'arrnis `actuated to the vertical position to effect pivotal movementof the shoe support-to extend outwardly therefrom infalignment withthe coil carrying arm means to .receive the end slit strip coilftherefrom and to maintain Vsaid end coi\l in supported relation on the Vrotatable arm,

Vthe hydraulic means also ,bein-g `disposed when the rotatable armjmoves from'theverticall position to -th'ehorizontalposition to `eifectrpiyotal movement of the; shoe supportto 'release'the vslit strip coil `when'the rotatable Aarm is in the horizontal position, land a coil support memberdisposed adjacent the path of movementofthe rotatable arm to receivethe slit strip coil when the rotatable arm is in; the horizontal position to Ithereby free the slit strip coilffrorn the rotatable arm.

3. ln apparatus for-facilitating,the banding-of strip coils,v the combination comprising, arm means for carrying a supply of slit strip coils with their faces in substantially'vertical parallel relation, a rotatable armndisposed for movement from a downwardly depending vertical position through a horizontal position kto an Jupwardly extending Vvertical positionfmeans foreffecting movementof the rotatable arm from one of said vertical positions to the other of said vertical positions, a shoe support'pivotally carried by Athe rotatable arm, means actuated by movement ofthe rotatable arm to theopwardly extending position to effect pivotal movementof the shoe support to extend outwardly therefromv toward and in alignment with the coil carrying arm vmeans to receive the end slit strip coil therefrom and to maintain said end coil' in supported relation on the rotatablevalrm, ajpluralityof upwardlyextending coil receiving support membersdisposed adjacent'tothe rotatable arm, said coil receiving support members being spaced from `one another-to'per'mit passage of the rotatable arm between certain Vof the support members during a movement of the rotatable arm'from one of saidvertical positions to the other of said vertical positions, the upper ends of the spaced support members being disposed to seat against a face of the strip coil carried by the rotatablearm as the rotatable arm is moved through its horizontal position from' the upwardly extending to the downwardly depending vertical position to thereby free the strip coil from the rotatable arm and support the strip coil with its faces in a substantially horizontal parallel relation in a band receiving position, and means for indexing the spaced support members and the strip coil supported thereby in a predetermined manner when thenrotavtable arm is in its downwardly depending vertical position to progressivelymove the stripcoil through a predetermined numberfof bandreceiving positions.

- avancee In apparatus for facilitating'the 'bandingl of strip ,coils,jthe combination comprising'arm means for carry- -ing a-supplyof slit strip coils with their'faces in substantially vertical parallel relation, a rotatable arm disposed for movement from a downwardly depending vertical position through a horizontal position to an upwardly extending vertical position, means for effecting movement of the rotatable arm from one of said vertical positions to the other of said vertical. positions, a shoe support pivotally carried by the rotatable arm, means actuated by movement of the rotatable arm to the upwardly extending position to effect pivotal movement of the shoe support to extend outwardly therefrom toward and in alignment with the coil carrying arm means to receive the end slit strip coil therefrom and to maintain said end coil in'supported relation on the rotatable arm, a plurality of upwardly extending coil receiving support members disposed adjacent to the rotatable arm, said coil receiving support members being spaced from one another to permit passage of the rotatable arm between certain of the support members during a movement of the rotatable arm from one of said vertical positions to the other of said vertical positions, said shoe support actuating means being actuated by movement of the rotatable arm to the horizontal position to eifect pivotal movement of the shoe support away from the strip coil carried by the rotatable arm to release the strip coil when the rotatable arm is in the horizontal position, the upper ends of the spaced support members being disposed to seat against a face of the strip coil carried by the rotatable arm when the rotatable arm is moved through its horizontal position from the upwardly extending to the downwardly depending vertical position to thereby free the strip coil from the rotatable arm and support the strip coil ywith its faces in a substantially horizontal parallel relation in a band receiving position, and means for indexing the spaced support members and the strip coil supported thereby in a predetermined manner when the rotatable arm is in its downwardly depending vertical position to progressively move the strip vcoil through a predetermined number of band receiving positions.

5. In apparatus for facilitating the banding of strip coils, the combination comprising, arm means for carry-V ing a supply of slit strip coils with their faces in substantially vertical parallel relation, a rotatable arm disposed for movement from a downwardly depending vertical position through a horizontal position to an upwardly extending vertical position, means for effecting movement of the rotatable arm from one of said vertical positions to the other of said vertical positions, a shoe support pivotally carried by the rotatable arm, means actuated by movement of the rotatable arm to the upwardly extending position to effect pivotal movement of the shoe support to extend outwardly therefrom toward and in alignment with the coil carrying arm means to receive the end slit strip coil therefrom and to maintain said end coil in supported relation on the rotatable arm and to effect pivotal movement of the shoe support when the rotatable arm moves therefrom to the horizontal position torrelease the strip coil when the rotatable arm is in the horizontal position, a plurality of upwardly extending coil receiving support members disposed adjacent to the rotatable arm, said coil receiving support members being spaced from one another to permitV passage of the rotatable arm between certain of the support rnem- 'bers during a movement of the rotatable arm from one of said vertical positions to the other of said vertical positions, the upper ends of the spaced support members being disposed to receive and seat against a face of the strip coil carried by the rotatable arm when the rotatable arm is moved through its horizontal position from the upwardly extending to the downwardly depending vertical positions to thereby remove the strip coil from the rotatable arm and support the strip coil with its faces in a substantially horizontal parallel relation in a band Y Y 12 s receiving position, means disposed for operation to index the spaced supportA members and the strip coil supported thereby in a predetermined manner to progressively move the strip coil through a predetermined number of band receiving positions,Y and means disposed to be actuated when the rotatable arm is in the downwardly depending vertical position to insure the operation of the indexing means only when the rotatable armY is in said downwardly depending vertical position. l

6. In apparatus for facilitating the banding of strip coils, the combination comprising, arm means for carrying a supply of slit strip coils with their faces in substantially vertical parallel relation, a rotatable arm disposed for movement from a downwardly depending vertical position through a horizontal position to an upwardly extending vertical position, means for effecting movement of the rotatable arm fromone of said vertical positions to the other of said vertical positions, a rotatable shoe support 4pivotally carried by the rotatable'arm, means actuated by movement of the rotatable arm to the upwardly extending position to eect pivotal movement of the shoe support to extend outwardly therefrom toward and in alignment with the coil carrying arm means to receive the end slit strip coil therefrom and to maintain said end coil in supported relation on the rotatable arm and to eiect pivotal movement of the shoe support when the rotatable arm moves therefrom to the horizontal position to release the strip coil when the rotatable arm is in the horizontal position, a plurality of upwardly extending coil receiving support members disposed adjacent to the rotatable arm, said coil receiving support members being spaced from one another to permit passage of the rotatable arm between certain of the support members during a movement of the rotatable arm from one of said vertical positions to the other of said vertical positions, the upper ends of the spaced support members being disposed to receive and seat against a face of the strip coil carried by the rotatable arm when the rotatable armA is moved through its horizontal position from the upwardly extending to the downwardly depending vertical positions to thereby remove the coil from the rotatable arm and support the strip coil with its faces in a substantially horizontal parallel relation in a band receiving position, means disposed for operation to rotatably index the spaced support members and the strip coil supported Ythereby in a predeterminedrmanner to progressively move the strip coil through a predetermined number of band receiving positions, means disposed to be actuated when the rotatable arm is in the downwardly depending vertical position to insure the operation of the indexing means only when the rotatable arm is in said downwardly depending vertical position, and means for removing Vthe banded strip coil from the spaced support members to permit movement of the rotatable arm from the downwardly depending vertical position to the upwardly extending vertical position.

7,-In apparatusl for facilitating the banding of strip coils, the combination comprising, arm means for carrying a supply of slit strip coils with their faces in substantially vertical parallel relation, a rotatable arm disposed for movement from a downwardly depending vertical position through a horizontal position to an upwardly exvertical position to eiect pivotal movement ofthe shoe support to extend outwardly therefrom toward and in' alignment with the coil carrying arm means 'to -receive the endrslit strip coil therefrom and to maintain said end ff'eesogsse rotatable armjmovestherefrorift th hbrizontalpo'sition :to'vreflease the strip'V coil whenthe"rotatable"armfisin'rthe Y l horizontal r'aositioin'fa;*plurality* offupwardly extending "5 Ythe"`arrr1'moves"tolthexlhorizontalppositiort'to thereby=re coil receiving "st rpportimembersilisposed"V adjacent to the wrotatable arm, said' coil receivingrsupprt members-being "le ase .said 'end lgc'oil, f a p'lt'l'ra'lity',v ofi.' upwardly extending f coi-l'receiving'support mmbersdisposed in spaced relation to one anotherfadjacent ithefpathsof zm'ovement #of Athe arm ltolpermitzpass'a'ge fof'. the; arrrrbetween certain ing' arnovelment of thev rotatable 'armfro'm one' of said 10 5 ofthe" support memberslasfthelarmmovesffrom'.onelof ','vertic'al positionslto thefother'of saidvertical'positions, Y the'upp'er endsof the' spaced supportniembersbeing disposed 'to receive fand Lseat'` againstja "facel of e the istrip coil "carried by 'the rotatable arm whenthe' rotatable-'anids "moved through itsyhorizontalfposition from' the 'upwardly 15 depending vertical position;fandune'ansdisposd for-opl fextending to the downwardly-'depending verticalA position to therebyemove 'thelcoilhfrom'the 4rotatable arm and vsupport'the strip'coil'twithritsffaces 'in substantially horizontal parallel relation Vin a bandreceiving position,

- saidV vertical positions-to .theother o5-said .verticabpositions, said "spaced spport members being disposed-"to receive and'l'supportithec 'lf-finiai bandingpo'sition as fthey arm movesffr'o'm the-horizontal .to v-the'dnvnward'ly 'er'ation'to' rotatably ind'ex the spaced 'supportmembers andfthe'strip'coilsupported thereontin a predetermined i manner 'when the' farmi is i'nlitst- :downwardly depending 1'vertical 'p'o'siti'on Stoprbgr'essivelyindex' the strip vcoil and means disposed for operationto rotatably index the Vfthrogha':pridetermined?number; roff'banding positions.

spaced `support (members:andthefstrip' coil" 'supported thereby in alpredetermined-rnanner when the rotatable "arm isiinits downwardly depending vertical position to VV.progressively move the strip coil-through ae'predeter- 'mined number. ofiband,receiriusinositions- 8. In apparatus for facilitating the banding `of strip coils, the combination comprising, means for supporting a supply of slit strip coils in side by side relation with their faces in substantially vertical parallel relation, a

#-102 In apparatus -or facilitating Y the i .banding f of :strip coils, the 'combinationfcomprising. means for supporting fV lit stip'coilsinside byf'sidezrelation 'with ubstantially: vertical' lparallel 'relation,` a

pivotally mounted arm disposed to be rotated from a other of said vertical positions, a shoe support pivotally downwardly depending vertical position through a horizontal position to an upwardly extending vertical position, means for eecting movement of the pivotally mounted arm from one of said vertical positions to the carried by the arm, hydraulic means carried by the arm for movement therewith and connected to the pivotally mounted shoe support for controlling the pivotal movement thereof, valve means connected to the hydraulic other of Said Vertical positions, a shoe support pivotally means for controlling the operation thereof, means recarried by the arm, hydraulic means carried by the arm for movement therewith and connected to the pivotally mounted shoe support for controlling the pivotal movement thereof, valve means connected to the hydraulic sponsive to the pivotal movement of the arm for controlling the operation of the valve means to effect an operation of the hydraulic means to move the shoe support to a position perpendicular to thearm and in alignment means for controlling the operation thereof, means re- With the COl SUPPIY Supporting means When the arm iS sponsive to the pivotal movement of the arm for controlling the operation of the valve means to elect an operation of the hydraulic means to move the shoe support to a position perpendicular to the arm and in alignin the upwardly extending vertical position to receive the end coil thereon and maintain said end coil in supported relation on the arm and to retract the shoe support from said position perpendicular to the arm when the arm ment with the coil supply Supporting means when the moves to the horizontal position to thereby release said arm is in the upwardly extending vertical position to receive the end coil thereon and maintain said end coil in supported relation on the arm and to retract the shoe support from said position perpendicular to the arm when end coil, a plurality of upwardly extending coil receiving support members disposed in spaced relation to one another adjacent the path of movement of the arm to permit passage of the arm between certain of the support the arm moves t0 the 1101120111211 position to thereby re. 50 members as the arm moves from one of said vertical positions to the other of said vertical positions, said spaced support members being disposed to receive and support the coil in a banding position as the arm moves from the horizontal to the downwardly depending Vertical position, means disposed for operation to rotatably index the spaced support members to progressively index the strip coil supported thereon through a predetermined number of banding positions, and means responsive to the positioning of the arm in the downwardly depending pivotally mounted arm disposed to be rotated from a 50 vertical position for permitting operation vof the indexdownwardly depending vertical position through a horizontal position to an upwardly extending vertical position, means for effecting movement of the pivotally mounted arm from one of said vertical positions to the ing means only while the arm is in the downwardly depending vertical position.

11. In apparatus for handling strip coils from a supply carried by an arm to facilitate the banding of the coils,

other of said Vertical positions, a shoe support pivotally the Combination Comprising, a faabl@ afm disposed carried by the arm, hydraulic means carried by the arm for movement therewith and connected to the pivotally mounted shoe support for controlling the pivotal movement thereof, valve means connected to the hydraulic for movement between an upwardly extending vertical position and a horizontal position, means for effecting movement of the rotatable arm between said positions, a shoe support pivotally carried by the rotatable arm means for Controlling the opel-ation thereof, means reand disposed for movement to extend outwardly theresponsive to the pivotal movement of the arm for controlling the operation of the valve means to etect an operation of the hydraulic means to move the shoe support to a position perpendicular to the arm and in alignfrom in substantial alignment with the supply arm to receive a coil from said supply when the rotatable arm is in the upwardly extending vertical position, operative means actuated by movement of the rotatable arm to ment with the coil supply supporting means when the the upwardly extending vertical position disposed to effect a pivotal movement of the shoe support to said outwardly 'extending position to receive a coil from the supply arm, said operative means also being disposed to be actuated by movement of the rotatable arm from the upwardly extending vertical position to the horizontal position to eiect pivotal movement of the shoe support away from said outwardly extending position to release the coil as the rotatable arm approaches the horizontal position, and a coil support member disposed adjacent the path of movement of the rotatable arm to receive the coil when the rotatable arm is in the horizontal position to thereby free the coil from the rotatable arm.

12. In apparatus for handling strip coils from a supply carried by an arm to facilitate the banding of the coils, the combination comprising, a rotatable arm disposed for movement between an upwardly extending vertical position and a horizontal position, means for effecting movement of the rotatable arm between saidV positions, a shoe support pivotally carried by the rotatable arm and disposed for movement to extend outwardly therefrom in substantial alignment with the supply arm to receive a coil from said supply when the rotatable arm is in the upwardly extending vertical position, hydraulic means carried by the rotatable arm and connected to the pivotally mounted shoe support for controlling the pivotal movement thereof, valve meansjdisposed to be operated to control the operation of the hydraulic means, cam m'eansdisposed for movement with the rotatable arm and connected tocontrol the operation of the valve means, the cam means being disposedrwhen the rotatable arm approaches'the' upwardly extending vertical position to operate the valve to initiate an operation of the hydraulic means to effectY pivotal movement ofthe shoe support to`said outwardly extending position to receive a coil from the supply arm,the cam means also being disposed when the rotatable arm approaches the horizontal position to operate the valve to initiate vanoperation of the hydraulic means to eiect a'pivotal movement of the shoe supportV awayrfrom said outwardly extending position to release the coil carried by the rotatablerarm, andV a coil support member disposed adjacent the path of movement of the rotatable arm to receive the coil whenl the rotatable arm is in the Yhorizontal position `to thereby free the coil from the rotatable arm.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

